Common (“proteinogenic” or “coded”) amino acids have a three-letter symbol and are also represented by a one-letter symbol. Uncommon amino acids also have three-letter symbols and can be represented by the one-letter symbol “X”. The tables below list the symbols and abbreviations used in our website and literature.
Key - Acidic Basic Non-polar (hydrophobic) Polar (uncharged)
Amino acid | Three-letter symbol | One-letter symbol | Chemical structure |
---|---|---|---|
Alanine | Ala | A | ![]() |
Arginine | Arg | R | ![]() |
Asparagine | Asn | N | ![]() |
Aspartic acid | Asp | D | ![]() |
Cysteine | Cys | C | ![]() |
Glutamine | Gln | Q | ![]() |
Glutamic acid | Glu | E | ![]() |
Glycine | Gly | G | ![]() |
Histidine | His | H | ![]() |
Isoleucine | Ile | I | ![]() |
Leucine | Leu | L | ![]() |
Lysine | Lys | K | ![]() |
Methionine | Met | M | ![]() |
Phenylalanine | Phe | F | ![]() |
Proline | Pro | P | ![]() |
Serine | Ser | S | ![]() |
Threonine | Thr | T | ![]() |
Tryptophan | Trp | W | ![]() |
Tyrosine | Tyr | Y | ![]() |
Valine | Val | V | ![]() |
Three letter symbol | Amino Acid |
---|---|
Aad | 2-Aminoadipic acid (2-aminohexanedioic acid) |
Aan | α-Asparagine |
Abu | 2-Aminobutanoic acid |
Aca | 2-Aminocapric acid (2-aminodecanoic acid) |
Agn | α-Glutamine |
Aib | α-Aminoisobutyric acid (α-methylalanine) |
Apm | 2-Aminopimelic acid (2-aminoheptanedioic acid) |
App | γ-Amino-β-hydroxybenzenepentanoic acid |
Asu | 2-Aminosuberic acid (2-aminooctanedioic acid) |
AzaGly | 2-Azaglycine |
Aze | 2-Carboxyazetidine |
Bal | β-Alanine |
Bas | β-Aspartic acid |
Bly | 3,6-Diaminohexanoic acid (β-lysine) |
Bua | Butanoic acid |
Bux | 4-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid |
Cap | γ-Amino-β-hydroxycyclohexanepentanoic acid |
Cha | 3-Cyclohexylalanine |
Cit | N5-Aminocarbonylornithine |
Cya | 3-Sulfoalanine |
Dab | 2,4-Diaminobutanoic acid |
Dap | Diaminopropionic acid |
Dpm | Diaminopimelic acid |
Dpr | 2,3-Diaminopropanoic acid |
Dsu | 2,7-Diaminosuberic acid (2,7-diaminooctanedioic acid) |
Edc | S-Ethylthiocysteine |
Ggu | γ-Glutamic acid |
Gla | γ-Carboxyglutamic acid |
Glc | Hydroxyacetic acid (glycolic acid) |
Glp | Pyroglutamic acid (Pyr) (pGlu) |
Har | Homoarginine |
Hcy | Homocysteine |
Hhs | Homohistidine |
Hiv | 2-Hydroxyisovaleric acid |
Hse | Homoserine |
Hva | 2-Hydroxypentanoic acid |
Hyl | 5-Hydroxylysine |
Hyp | 4-Hydroxyproline |
Igl | α-Amino-2-indanacetic acid |
Iva | Isovaline |
Lac | 2-Hydroxypropanoic acid (lactic acid) |
Maa | Mercaptoacetic acid |
Mba | Mercaptobutanoic acid |
Mhp | 3-Hydroxy-4-methylproline |
Mpa | Mercaptopropanoic acid |
Nal | 3-Naphthylalanine |
Nle | Norleucine |
Nphe | N-Benzylglycine |
Nty | Nortyrosine |
Nva | Norvaline |
Oaa | ω-Amino acid |
Oic | 2-Carboxyoctahydroindole |
Orn | Ornithine |
Pen | Penicillamine (3-mercaptovaline) |
Phg | 2-Phenylglycine |
Pip | 2-Carboxypiperidine |
Pmp | β,β-Cyclopentamethylene-β-Mercaptopropionic acid |
pSer | Phospho-L-serine |
pThr | Phospho-L-threonine |
pTyr | Phospho-L-tyrosine |
Pya(4) | 3-(4-Pyridinyl)-alanine |
Sar | Sarcosine (N-methylglycine) |
Spg | 1-Amino-1-carboxycyclopentane |
Sta | Statine ((3S,4S)-4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoic acid) (AHMHA) |
Thi | 3-Thienylalanine |
Tac | 2-Tolylaminophenylcabonyl ([(2-Methylphenyl)amino]carbonyl) |
Tic | 3-Carboxyisoquinoline |
Tle | 3-Methylvaline |
Tml | ε-N-Trimethyllysine |
Tza | 3-Thiazolylalanine |
Und | Undefined |
Wil | α-Amino-2,4-dioxopyrimidinepropanoic acid |
Abbreviation | Substituent |
---|---|
Ac | Acetyl |
Bn | Benzyl, Bzl |
Bz | Benzoyl |
For | Formyl |
Me | Methyl |
Myr | Myristoyl |
Z | Benzyloxycarbonyl |